Jakarta. Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto’s defense policies are closest to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo as both seek to modernize the Indonesian weaponry system, according to an expert.

Prabowo today is still serving as the defense minister. Khairul Fahmi, a military expert at the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies (ISESS), said Prabowo’s approach to defense would be reminiscent of the current administration.

“Of course, the candidate that shares the closest visions and missions to Jokowi is Prabowo Subianto, who is currently the defense minister. … And that includes the modernization of the primary defense system,” Khairul told Beritasatu on Sunday.

According to Khairul, Indonesia should build its national defense in a sustained manner, meaning that future leaders should carry on what past governments had done. Thus, the Prabowo-Gibran Rakabuming pairing should not hold back on continuing Jokowi’s defense policies.

As the debate will start in about two hours, Prabowo should have been able to show the data facts on the ground of what he had done as the defense minister, Khairul said.  

“It is possible that Anies and Ganjar will underline the global maritime fulcrum, which does not receive much attention. They will likely ask Prabowo about this as he is the current defense minister,” Khairul also told Beritasatu.

Starting at 7 p.m. sharp, Prabowo along with his fellow contenders Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo will face off in a debate focusing on defense, international relations, geopolitics, and security.

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